Most of the cheap blow dryers on the market use metal heating elements. This produces a harsh, uneven heat that literally cooks the water off of your hair. If you use this type of blow dryer on a regular basis and are not applying products to protect your hair, it eventually will become very dry, brittle and will break.

Ceramic blow dryers use radiant heat which penetrates the individual strands of hair rather than heating them from the outside in resulting in less damage to your hair.

Less expensive blow dryers give off positive ions which result in your hair looking dull and frizzy. Ceramic blow dryers emit negative ions that help your hair to stay shiny and reduces static electricity. Most ceramic blow dryers are infused with Tourmaline which boosts the negative ions, so that these blow dryers can actually dry your hair up to 70% faster.

Most professionals in the hair care industry use ceramic blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, etc., and combine those with Tourmaline-treated brushes and other styling tools to help your hair stay shiny and sleek.

The T3 is an ionic ceramic blow dryer with a true ceramic heater coil. Its motor is made with crushed Tourmaline for the highest boost of negative ions for your hair. It weighs in at less than 1 pound, and it comes with a four-year manufacturer's warranty.

The T3 Tourmaline Professional Featherweight received the honor of "Best Blow Dryer" at InStyle's 2008 Beauty Awards, and s the "go to" ceramic blow dryer model hair care professionals.

Average Price: $200.00

The Revlon RV544 Tourmaline Ionic is a more affordable choice in ceramic blow dryers. This Revlon model is quiet, lightweight and reliable and comes packed with features. It has two heat and speed settings, an ion indicator light, a quiet motor and a diffuser.

Good Housekeeping's testing labs gave the Revlon RV544 a higher overall score than other ceramic blow dryers, and was also voted the quietest of them all.

Use caution, however, as some consumers who have rated this said that it worked very well for thick or coarse hair, but may not be the right choice for others with thin or fine hair.

Average Price: $30.00

The Conair 213X Infiniti is an affordable choice in ceramic blow dryers. It utilizes Tourmaline ceramic tecnhnology with ionic drying power and a professional AC motor. This is also packed with features such as a 7' professional line cord, 3 heat settings, two speed settings, a 'cool shot', and diffuser and concentrator attachments.

Most reviewers have said that the Conair 213X Infiniti rivals the T3 Tourmaline. However, a big drawback noted by many is the bulkiness and weight of the unit which they found difficult to manage after a few minutes.

Average Price: $35.00

The Andis 1875 is consistently voted the best ceramic blow dryer for travel due to its small size, folding handle and retractable cord. It combines a ceramic coil with ionic technology to prevent damage to your hair and cut down on drying time.It also features three speeds, a cool shot button and a five-year manufacturer's warranty.

While reviewers generally give the Andis 1875 a high rating, there are two negative aspects that have been noted. Like the Conair 213X, the unit is slightly heavy making it difficult for some people to use it for more than a few minutes at a time. And although this was designed with the traveler in mind, it does not have dual voltage so you may need to purchase an adapter if traveling out of the country.

Average Price: $20.00

The BaByliss Pro Carrera gives you 1900 watts of power using ionic and ceramic technology. It is compact, quiet and lightweight and comes with 6 speed/heat settings for the ultimate flexibility. A concentrator is also included, but the diffuser must be purchased separately.

Average Price: $90.00